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I’m not a morning person. Ask my family, even my friends. They will tell you. Early morning? Not my gig. Hey, by 9 am I’m fine. But before that? Not so much.

I’ve been reading about setting goals. Starting with small ones.

For a long time I’ve wanted to be thatperson. The kind that works out first thing in the morning. You know, get it done with so there’s no excuses. Have plenty of time for other things later in the day. And such and such and so and so.

In my reading it said to start small. Take it a piece at a time. Alright-y then. I decided to get up 30 minutes early five days a week to walk 20 minutes on the treadmill. I. Can. Do. This.

I realize that’s not enough exercise for me. But I’m starting small, remember? And I can still work out later in the day. Baby steps. Especially in the morning. Getting up 30 minutes earlier than normal is going to be hard enough.

So TODAY was the day. Actually yesterday was the day, but that didn’t work out so well.

So TODAY! Last night I set my alarm 30 minutes ahead of my usual time. For me that brought it to a whopping 6:30 am. I know I know, not early at all for you morning folk. Cut me some slack here people, I’m trying. I even set my cell phone for 6:30–all the way in the closet–so I couldn’t groggily hit snooze and sleep my way through exercise.

Alarm rings. Second alarm rings. I get up and force contacts into my eyes. I had my workout clothes laid out all ready to go (planning is so important you know). All I had to do was plop them on. Oops, forgot a sports bra. The only clean ones I had are in the laundry room. That room also doubles as the dogs bedroom. I didn’t want to wake her or I’d have to take her outside. Well, it’s just a little walk I’m sure my B cups can handle a regular bra today.

Getting dressed my foggy brain comes to realize that I haven’t given myself as much time as I should have. While most of the household wakes up at 7 am, I get my 15 year old daughter up at 6:50 because her bus comes sooner. Oh well, I’ll just do 10 minutes on the treadmill, wake her up, and then 10 minutes more. I can do this.

In walks my 13 year old daughter. She’s not feeling well. I kiss her forehead and no fever. But she’s obviously miserable. I’m not totally surprised since she fell asleep at the supper table last night. Nope, that’s not normal. I told her to go back to bed. Ok, shoes on I can do this…

What’s that I hear? Dog’s awake. Crud. If I don’t let her out she’ll wake up the whole house. Tick tock tick tock goes the clock.

Dogs out on her leash. Sniffing every possible place to go. Come on already, times ticking away! MORNINGS, grrrr.

I let the dog in and looked at the clock. 6:50. Where did the time go?!? I woke up my eldest. Apparently I have to get up 40 minutes early to walk for 20? This is ridiculous. I hopped into bed with my husband for 8 minutes. Tomorrow is a new day.

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This past week in the Midwest has been frigid. Monday the kids didn’t have school…wind chills were in the -50s F! That’s frostbite in 5-10 minutes kinda cold. Yikes.

But it’s the inside cold that’s been bothering me.

The cold inside my head and chest! I’ve had a cold since before Christmas and I can’t seem to knock it out. I blame myself. Over the holidays I wasn’t taking care of myself. Not enough sleep, little exercise and plenty of sweets equals a recipe for sickness.

Blech. I wish it would go away! Now I am taking care of myself but it wants to hang out with me for the long haul.

However, one thing I haven’t been doing with this cold? Exercising.

Forget that fact that uhm, breathing is necessary to exercise and I would be wheezing for air and possibly coughing up a lung. My body needs all it’s extra energy to heal from this infection or virus.

Now, I cannot and should not use the sniffles as an excuse not to exercise!

Exercise is usually OK if your signs and symptoms are all “above the neck” — symptoms you may have with a common cold, such as runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing or minor sore throat. Consider reducing the intensity and length of your workout, though, or you may feel worse. Instead of going for a run, take a walk, for example.

Don’t exercise if your signs and symptoms are “below the neck” — such as chest congestion, hacking cough or upset stomach.

Don’t exercise if you have a fever, fatigue or widespread muscle aches.

Let your body be your guide.

Listen to your body. But don’t let it be an excuse.

I hope to be back at it soon. Maybe I’ll go for a short walk. On the treadmill of course, cuz baby it’s cold outside!